Gorongosa's Water Cycle

This animation illustrates the main stages of the water cycle in Gorongosa National Park, an ecosystem that experiences both wet and dry seasons.

Gorongosa National Park sits at the southern end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley in Mozambique. The park surrounds a large lake and lies beneath a mountain that rises almost 2000 meters above sea level. The animation shows how, during the wet season, moisture from the Indian Ocean ends up as rainfall in the park. During the dry season, water that was captured by the mountain is gradually released into the park.

Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different components and effects of the park’s water cycle.